State Unclaimed Property in Vermont

State Unclaimed Property in Vermont: key facts

Administering office

Vermont State Treasurer, Unclaimed Property Division.

Official search

vermont.unclaimedproperty.com (free search and online claims); the Treasurer also links the national NAUPA search at unclaimed.org for other states.

Deceased-owner procedure

If probate is open, the property is delivered to the administrator or executor. If the estate is closed and the property is valued at less than $5,000, it is delivered per the Probate Division decree of distribution; with no open estate and no decree, and the property under $5,000, it goes to the surviving spouse, or if none, to the next of kin under 14 V.S.A. § 314. In all other cases the claimant opens a probate estate, and the Probate Division may waive the filing fees (27 V.S.A. § 1557).

Payment after approval

Not later than 30 days after a claim is allowed, the Administrator pays or delivers the property or the net proceeds of its sale to the owner (27 V.S.A. § 1555).

Small estate option for heir claims

When the deceased owner's unclaimed property is $5,000 or more and no probate estate is open, heirs may use Vermont's small estate procedure (14 V.S.A. § 1901) rather than full probate administration, provided the estate consists entirely of personal property and has a fair market value of not more than $45,000. Letters of administration issued under § 1902 are effective for one year. The Probate Division may waive the filing fees under 27 V.S.A. § 1557.

Governing law: 27 V.S.A. Chapter 18 (Revised Unclaimed Property Act); §§ 1553–1557